Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Any respect I had for Palin, McCain's token female running mate in the US election, is waning after reading that she is pushing to have evolution and creationism both taught in schools as one of her election statements. I have to ask: Haven't we gotten past this to more important issues of state in election time?The US has a lot more problems at the moment than a science/church pissing contest over the origin of the species. Let's hold up the whole separation of church and state and move on with governing a country in a humane and fair way. Unless we're going to acknowledge all religions in the US and let them all have equal say, leave it alone. Teach taxonomy and leave the rest out until people go to University and let them figure out what they think from there...

Maybe focus on *real* issues in the election. Like, oh, I don't know...the economic collapse of a nation? Feeding and clothing all of your people and allowing them to live a decent life? Removing corporate greed from your White House and allowing the country to look after itself and the environment with prudent dignity?

I would like to speak for the entire female gender in saying: A hearty boo to Palin, and state that really, although she *is* technically one of us, please don't judge us all by her actions. Can we assign her some "other" category? Give her some sort of tattoo, saying "warning contents are not representative and may have settled during shipping"?

I had such hopes that the first female politician let anywhere near the White House would be anything other than this...Hillary I could handle. But this?

*sigh*

And here I was so pleased last night, gloating about how a woman would be better in office, after reading our local Conservative MP's mailout to us that was his usual rantish, bigoted, female insulting and pretty much inane self...with comments like how he wants to "stop women being forced into abortions" and "halt the restrictive and hurtful human rights commissions and committees" from getting in the way of "good people" doing the "right" things. In the past he's ranted about the terrible natives who abuse our social programs and are taking advantage of our handouts, and how women are not being allowed to be traditional (??) and that liberals and NDPs are attacking family values. I keep wondering why he gets reelected over and over...but then I know I live in a predominantly religious right wing riding, where lots of small town people will vote conservative just to vote conservative regardless of who is on the ticket. I cannot, on good conscience, support this guy. A pigs bladder on a stick would be better some days, I think. He is a racist illspoken man who has not done anything helpful for the greater good in my riding other than to support the status quo.

And again...I am baffled why people vote conservative for such a leader. I understand wanting family values...wanting someone who isn't scary and won't challenge your way of life or thinking. Someone who looks after "what's right"? But how is that concept uniquely conservative? And why is liberalism so bad? Why are people so afraid of new thoughts, cultures and ideas? To me, if the person in the running in your area was a good person with a lot of well spoken ideas then pick him/her, regardless of his political party. Pick someone who will stand up for their principles, whatever they are, and make sure your riding's needs and opinions are held up in government. Isn't that the whole point of voting?Do I want Maurice Vellacott to be king asshat of Meewasin Saskatoon riding again? Hells no.I am not exaggerating when I say that altho I am certain he is a nice, decent man, he has also proven himself in the past to be overly biased in christian religious issues and a racist by his actions and statements.We have to move forward...

And so now I can't be proud of men or a women in politics...Perhaps I shall use my lab to create a new 3rd gender...or (shudder) go into politics.OR (I'm liking this 3rd option more and more the more I think about it) create a new race of political undead to run in the next election...hell why not? I can see it now: an undead Trudeau for Prime Minister in 2012! Bring back the great leaders of the past to Canada!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Well...my brain is full of sciencywiency stuff.I just helped tutor the grade 11 japanese student staying with my brother. I had to relearn a bunch of biology I haven't looked at in ages: parts of the cell, all about bacteria and wading through the latingobbledegook that is taxonomy...and apparently, there are now 6 Kingdoms in taxonomy instead of 5. Sheesh! I am constantly amused at the need for scientists need to describe and classify. They divided a kingdom into 2 just to be more anally descriptive and divisive...rather arbitrarily if'n you ask me...but then I still think Pluto should be a planet, so what do I know? :)

Yesterday was bliss. Maxing and chillaxing and relaxing all cool and shooting some b-ball outside of the school...and all that. I relaxed...I made a fiery hot breakfast of taters and sausages with some chipotle peppers in them (they cooked up hotter than I thought) and finally finished The Time Traveller's Wife. I highly recommend it. AND we got tickets for last night to see the local production of Waiting for Godot. It is a somewhat experimental and obscure play. It's a play by Samuel Becket I've always been curious to see but never figured it would make it to way out here... It's just collections of dialog between 4 bizarre people as they wait for someone. Not so much plot as exposition and absurdity...Not for everyone but *I* liked it.

And, my trusty new appliances came. They look very cool. I gave them all hugs of welcome.I have thoroughly relaxed and today made up some muffins and pumpkin cookies, and even tried my hand at celiac baking. My sis-in-law was recently diagnosed celiac...so since I was going over there today to tutor Kyoka, I thought I'd bring her bakeymunchables. It's so unfair that I bring over other stuff and she can never eat them. I even put peaches in them (which my brother hates) so they are all for her. Score.

Anyhoo...time to get back to the pledge drive mines. I just ahve to keep reminding myself it is for a good cause and I think I am ready to get back to it for a little while longer. It's all over friday, so I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...faintly.

Friday, September 26, 2008

This week has one too many days in it I think. I am drained. Not tired...just drained. I'm glad tomorrow is a day off from everything. I can't wait.

On the other hand, my new washer and Dryer and dishwasher come very soon. Maybe today...or at the latest tomorrow.Mee hee.I have to wait until my Dad comes in October to hook them all up to use them, but still. Appliances that actually work with out kicking assistance or sounding like there is heavy construction going on in the house! A dishwasher that will close without cursing and using a screwdriver! A dryer that has a door handle!

Thursday, September 25, 2008

I really prefer it when people overestimate things. It makes it more pleasant to do less than you thought, and you get finished early.The alternative...my day. What was described as a "few" samples to sort, log and divide up was described as ~40. "OK, not too bad" I thought. When I arrived, it turned out to be only 38, BUT with 5 samples each from those 38, so ACTUALLY 190. And, oh, each has to be divided into 4. And labelled. And no rush, but they're needed tomorrow. And did I mention that one set of the 190 are in duplicate?Sooooooo, in the end, only, oh, 950 odd tubes to label...no biggie. Certainly only a "few" wouldn't you say?Yeah. Good times.

I want a king hat so I can demand absurdities form people while not letting them know what they've agreed to until it is too late.This is the same gob I wanted to tell off about a month ago. A real charmer that one.Off to tubetown for me...just had to vent a bit.

Current annoyance: Not enough time. There’s a lot in life I need to focus on that is far more important than all this work crap…oh for the time. I volunteered, so it’s my own fault, but I’m starting to wish I could put up a flag and just sit at home and read for a while.

Current thing: Trying to appreciate all the little things in every day life that I used to take for granted.

Current desktop picture: A fractal by Diddums

Current book: I’m in the middle of the Time Traveller’s Wife. FANTASTIC book..

Current song in head: 2001: A spliff odyssey, Thievery Corporation (it’s playing at the moment).

Current DVD in player: Disc one of Season one of the Venture Brothers. I borrowed season 2 from a friend and we got hooked, so we had to pick up Season 1. We’ve been watching an episode at night to unwind…

Current refreshment: Just finished some cheap coffee. Stop! Jittertime!!

Current worry: How do you deal with problems and still live life, when life is part of the problem…how do you make enough time for everything?

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

(Absolute Insane Laughter as you pour toxic chemicals into a foaming tub of death!)
Well, maybe you aren't this extreme, but you're in league with the crazy scientists/mathmeticians of today. Very few people have the talent of math and science is something takes a lot of brains as well. Thank whosever God you worship, or don't worship, so thank no deity whatsoever in your case, for you people! Most of us would have died off without your help.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Well it is our annual pledge drive for the community station again. I'm volunteering every evening for 2 weeks to keep the drive running....we are in a new location now and it is so much nicer - windows, a fridge, a microwave. Wo hoo. We've moved up in the world. And there's honestly nothing like community radio.Right now, it's Greg's show, There Goes That Song Again. He plays old music from the 20s 30s and 40s. He just had a trivia contest of sorts: he plays tunes on the kazoo to see if anyone could guess the tune...and if noone can he plays until someone calls in and donates to make him stop :) Next is one of my Favourite shows Play. HE plays old radio dramas from the 40s and 50s...the Shadow and stuff like that. My grandpa had tonnes of old radio programmes on vinyl and I have many memories of listening to them curled up in the easy chair in his trailer with the headphones on when I was little.I love community radio. We broadcast in over 20 languages, play music of all genres and give open word access to a lot of community groups. All our hosts are volunteers and there are only 4 highly underpaid staff to keep the place running. I hear music I like on CFCR. Unfortunately like all public broadcasting we don't make much from advertising, so we have to grovel for cash once a year to stay on the air...and every year the people who appreciate us donate and keep us going. And that is what FMPhasis is: our annual fundraiser.This year our motto is "Keeping it Up". We've moved to a new location and we're hoping to get bigger and better, and continue to be a great service to the community.If you want to hear us, go here. There is a link to listen to us on-line on the website...check us out. In October we'll be back to normal, playing great stuff. Check CFCR out.You could even...you know, donate. (to J's show, the Afternoon Buzz on friday?? plug plug)It's good for the soul...

Friday, September 19, 2008

I ran across this show. It reminds me of the Tick and the live action show they put out of it a while back. I'm in the middle of a Venture Brothers stint at the moment, so cheesy supervillains and superheroes in an average world are just the thing to make me smirk right now...I'd like to check this show out. Hopefully it'll come over here relatively soon...or at least be on region 1 DVD eventually.

Wish it would come to us over here...I mean we just get the new season of Doctor Who today for gods sake. I'm willing to vote out the conservative party just to get the arts funding restored so we can have better scifi back on the CBC and Space channel...well OK I suppose other artforms could use some cash too, but seriously. We geeks pay our taxes too. What's in it for us? :)

Thursday, September 18, 2008

I was just thinking "I'm bored. And boring...I have nothing to write about today"...But then Grapecat had this little food meme there and Kaplah! Meme fodder for me.So here we go... the deal is you list these 100 items of food, and bold those you have eaten, and cross out any you wouldn't want to eat. I'm not sure how to do the cross out thing, so I'll just put ** before and after the ones I will not eat...and see what goes with that. Because I love unique identifiers and qualifiers (science geek) I am putting a # beside those that I have eaten but did not like...just cuz I feel the need to.(and it turns out you can't see bolding on this template, so I'll make the bold stuff yellow...complicated enough for you? OK. Lets go...)

I scored 71 - I don't know what some of this stuff was...but now I want to try them. I suspect if I didn't have an odd urge to try things I've never heard of when they present themselves and work with a lot of foreign grad students I'd have a much lower score.How about you?

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

As of now I FINALLY have the tools I need in my lab to align some patient genetic mutations with a published sequence and screen for differences in translation...to correlate with treatment data. To complete work I've been trying to do for months but not had the proper software available to me (cause it costs money...ahem).

And NOW I don't have to book a lab resource through grovelling in another department on weekend evenings...and it works on my mac laptop too should I ever get the silly notion to do work at home.And it's free!

Bloody f*cking brilliant.Thank god for brilliant grad students with bioinformatics training. I found someone who knew how to do what I want to do and has helped me just because she is a nice person who wants to help quality resaerch being done. No ego. No posturing - just sincere kind assistance to a friend.

My new favourite breakfast is a banana strawberry/peach smoothie, with some soy milk...and a dash of honey and flax. I had that this morning after running (finally trying to be good and exercise again) and I'll be damned if it wasn't the best breakfast I've had in ages.

Running makes for happy endorphins. It's been so long I'd forgotten...it's still nice out in the mornings...it'll take a while to getback to my former speed, but I like what running does for me both physically and mentally. It's good to challenge yourself. It is good to spend time in your head outdoors, listening to the Chemical brothers watching the sun come up over the river.Yes.Quite.

Monday, September 15, 2008

I had a very mellow weekend...got to be a normal person in a normal house doing normal things.I loved it. Every damn minute.

I can't say just how much my attitude towards my daily life has changed as of late. Having your entire life fall apart has a way of putting things in perspective when you are blessed with the gift of being to put it all back together again (Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. Better...stronger...faster...). I am so grateful for the little things I am gifted with in life:-snuggling in a bed with clean sheets-watching J sleep in the moonlight spilling in the window-making elaborate breakfasts for 2 on a lazy sunday (apple crepes...yum)-long walks in the woods-grumbling as we work together to make our home better (the new lights are up in the living room! AND they all work!)-looking up from a book and cup of coffee to see J looking at me over his book...and smiling

So yeah...there's so much yet to do, and life is not perfect. There is still a lot to come and do, but I have my life back. It is here, and I can live it. I know it sounds annoyingly cliche, but every day is a gift...and right now I feel like I'm opening it like a 5 year old on christmas morning every damn day!

Well, you turned out to be something of a rogue. This may not be exactly the life you wanted... but it's difficult to place people who want to enjoy all the romance and intrigue of civilization, without actually having a demanding job. Besides, since you enjoy the benefits of humanity so much more than you enjoy the press of humanity itself... you shouldn't have much trouble with your role in life. As long as you aren't afraid of danger there's a place for you in society, even if it's a rather dark and wicked place. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to fulfill the role of a spy.The good news: You're free and clever, and you can do whatever the heck you want. The bad news: everybody else is free and clever too, and they're not all on your side. With the flick of a blade, you can change the course of history. Might be fun. Might be a little messy.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Seeing as I'm busy up to my ears, here's a bit of the old: a friday favourite.

The Bloodthirsty Lovers self titled CD is a favourite of mine, and perfect for a rainy day busride, or when you're feeling a bit mellow. ( In fact, I'm listening to it right now).

It's from back in 2001, and they have another CD Delicate Seam out in 2004, and I've yet to get to that one. I don't know how easy it would be to track it down, but if you can, I'd recommend it. It's a bit experimental indy sort of electronically touched rock. (how's that for enough adjectives?). A bit like if Death Cab For Cutie and The Flaming Lips had a musical love child. It just clicks with my brain. I like it. Favourite tracks are Telepathic and Transgression #9.

It is a great album. A bit moody at times, but very nice. So have a listen...I think you'll like.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

My friend Trent was up to visit a while back.He is a fantastic photographer, and always has his camera with him.In August, he had a personal quest of taking a portrait a day. So, he pulled me about in a shopping cart during a trip to the 7-11 and then shot a few of Magnus under a streetlight and back at the house as well. The ones of Magnus turned out rather swanky, and were Trents choice for the portrait of the day. He posted the others of him too...but none of me *sniff*. They didn't turn out how he'd pictured them. BUT, but after much whinging/prodding Trent posted one of the ones he took of me...I just wanted to know...me hee.

It was a bit of fun at a hard time...a nice memory. Haven't been in a shopping cart in years...figured I should have a memorial of it.I'm still not as cool as Magnus tho...altho my chair is cool...it's in his portrait. Maybe if I sit in it for a bit the coolness will wear off...

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

I stumbled across this: a star wars Renaissance art contest. Take a Renaissance or classic piece of art and make it oh so much better by adding a little Star Wars to it. They even list the original piece of art it is based on so you can look them up and compare...OK so *I* can do that. What you do with the knowledge is entirely up to your geeky little selves.

Some of the entries are great. My faves are the Escher emperor self portrait and the C3PO Dali...

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

We finished moving my friend Magnus into his apartment the other day...it's quiet about the house...but right now it is good for J and I to have the space together. He didn't have too much stuff, but it was on the top floor, so we used our muscles, we did. Plus my brother gave us a couch which was a hidabed that we moved on the same day...so I'm done with heavy things for a while I think.

He found a neat old place with hardwood and water heat a block from where his new job will be, and close to buses and downtown, so it's a good thing. He starts classes too...lots going on for him. I'm glad it all seems to be coming together for him. Exciting times I think.It's so quiet...

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winterLittle darling, it feels like years since it's been hereHere comes the sun, here comes the sunand I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the facesLittle darling, it seems like years since it's been hereHere comes the sun, here comes the sunand I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly meltingLittle darling, it seems like years since it's been clearHere comes the sun, here comes the sun,and I say it's all rightIt's all right ----------------------------------------------------------

I am happy. It is good to be happy...I'll take things as it comes for now.Things are beginning to be OK.There is love.And love is strong enough to stand on to look at everything else. Together.

What I'm doing in my head ALL THE TIME

About Me

I'm a nice person. No really, I am.
I'm definitely not trying to create a monster in my lab and I'm definitely not working on a cure for cancer...Well....OK maybe. After kicking breast cancer's ass I got back to mad science -maybe my research will help cure cancer some day...the monster thing just sounds more cool...if being a scientist can be said to be cool...umm...
hey what's that over there?
(whoosh!)